The Ottawa free trader., 1887-10-15

recollection of that gentleman's face, with
the mark Of her riding whip lying across
it., rose before her.
az was about to say that Maj. Van
Zandt, as a gentleman, has known how to
fully excuse the natural impulses Of
daughter" continued Washington, with
look of perfect understandings "but let
me now satisfy you on another point,
where it would seem we greatly differ"
He walked to the door and summoned
his servant, to whom he gave an order.
In another moment the fresh faced young
officer who had at first admitted her re-
appeared with file Of official papers He
glanced slyly at Thankful Blossoms face
with an amused look, as If he had already
heard the colloquy between her and his
superior officer, and had appreciated that
which neither of the earnest actors In the
scene had themselves felt-a certain sense
of humor in the situation.
Howbeit, standing before them, Col.
Hamilton gravely turned over the file Of
papers. Thankful bit her lips in embar-
rassment. A slight feeling Of awe and a
presentiment of some fast coming shame;
new and strange consciousness Of her
self, her surroundings, OF the dignity Of
the two men before her; an uneasy feel
ing Of tho presence Of two ladies who had
III scms Mysterious way entered the room
from another door, and who seemed to be
intcntly regarding her from afar with .
curiosity as If she were some strange ami
nal, and . wild premonition that her
whole future life and happiness depended
upon tho events Of the next few moments
SO took possession Of her, that the brave
girl trembled for moment in her isola
ton and loneliness. In another instant
Col. Hamilton, speaking to his superior,
but looking obviously at Ole Of the ladies
who had entered, handed u paper to Wash
ington, and said, "Here are the charges"
''Read them" said the general coldly.
Col. Hamilton, with manifest con-
seriousness of another hearcr than Mistress
Blossom and his general, read the paper.
It was couchcd In phrases OF military and
legal precision, and related briefly, that
upon the certain and personal knowledge
Of the writer, Abner Blossom Of the
blossom Farm" was in the habit Of en-
tertaining two gentlemen, namely, the
Count Ferdinand" and the "Baron
Pomposo," suspected enemies of the
cause, and possible traitors to the CONT
mental army. 1t was signed by Alias
Brewster, late captain in the Connecticut
contingent.
As Col. Hamilton exhibited inc sigma
ture, Thankful Blossom had no difficulty
In recognizing the familiar bad hand and
equally familiar misspelling Of her lover.
She rose to her feet. With eyes that
showed her present trouble and perpleXity
Us frankly as they had q moment before
blazed with her indignation, she met, one
by one, the glances Of the group who now
seemed to be closing round her. Yet with
woman's instinct she felt, l am con-
strained to say, more unfriendliness IN the
silent presence Of the two women than in
the possible outspoken criticism of our
much abused sex.
'Of course" said voice which Thank
stinct, recognized rs the elder of the two
ladies, and the legitimate keeper of the
conscience Of some one of the men who
were present-"of course Mistress Thank
full will be able to elect which Of her
lovers among her country's enemies she
will be able to cling to for support In her
present emergency. She does not seem to
have been so special in her favors as to
have positively excluded any one"
"At least, dear Lady Washington, she
will not give 1t to the man who has proven
a traitor to her, +" said the younger woman
impulsively. "That isl beg your lady
ships pardon'-she hesitated, observing
in the dead silence that ensued that the
two superior male beings present looked
at each other in lofty astonishmcnt
ale that Is traitrous to his country"
said Lady Washington coldly, SIS apt to
be trait'rous elsewhere"
"'Twere as honest to say that he that
was trait'rous to his king was trait'rOus
to his country" said Mistress Thankful
with sudden audacity, bending her knit
brows on Lady Washington. But that
lady turned dignihedly away, and Mis-
tress Thankful again faced the general.
81 ask your PARDON" she said proudly,
"for troubling you with my wrongs But
1t seems to me that even II another and q
greater wrong were done me by my sweet
heart, through jealousy, 1t would not JUS
tify this accusation against me, even
though" she added, darting wicked
glance at the placid brocaded back Of Lady
Washington, "even though that accusa-
tion came from one who knows that jeal-
ousy may belong to the wife Of patriot
as well as traitor" She was herself
again after this speech, although her face
was white with the blow she had taken
and returned.
Col Hamilton passed his hand across
his mouth, and coughed slightly. Gen.
Washington, standing by the fire with
an impassive face, turned to Thankful
gravely:
"You are forgetting, Mistress Thankful,
that you have not told me how can serve
you. It cannot be that you are still con-